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Bose launches Frames, a pair of $200 smart AR sunglasses with built in wireless earphones

Submitted by Andy Lane on 5 December, 2018 and last modified on 15 January, 2019

Hi all, I just stumbled across something that sounds incredibly interesting. Bose are releasing a pair of sunglasses in spring 2019, They seem to have bone conduction built into the frames and they have a 9 axis gyro built in so they know which way they are pointing, couple this with GPS from your bluetooth connected phone and they claim to provide custom audio experiences. I’ guessing this would be something like museum guided tours or historical info on heretage sites or something, just my guess. Anyway thats not the point. Seems Bose may have just accidentally invented one of the best blind navigation aids ever with the bonus of being able to play music/books/podcasts too. They are not crazy expensive either, $199. They are called Bose Frames.

Check them out and see what you think.

Andy

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#1 Shipping s of January 2019.

Submitted by Seanoevil on 9 January, 2019

Hi All,

The Bose Frames, with built in open ear Audio, have started shipping as of January 2019.
I appreciate that their limited battery life and relatively high price make them a niche product, but I can't help but think that they have a lot to offer. I for one, am keen to examine their potential benefits they offer to Blind Travellers.
I am not sure when they will be available in Australia, but any AppleVisiers with early access to Bose Frames, I would be most keen to hear your reviews.

For those like me who appreciate open ear design, I have also just learned that AfterShockz are releasing a pair of Bone Conduction Glasses later this year.

#2 I hear the glasses are the

#3 Clarification

Submitted by Joseph Westhouse on 15 January, 2019

The original poster said the Bose glasses have bone conduction, but comment #1 says that they have over the ear headphones (which I imagine would look rather odd), and Aftershockz will be releasing a pair of bone-conduction audio sunglasses. Which is accurate?

I think they're based on the same tech that went into the Bose SoundWear.

I've been using Bluetooth headsets of different kinds for a long time and these are my favorite.
* Exceptional high-quality audio, don't block ears, simple, and intuitive.
* It's amazing that everything is done with just one-button on the right-arm.
* Everything including case, bag, cable, and glasses feel extremely well-designed and I've been told look really nice (ultra modern).

They're very discrete, as no one has noticed that they have speakers built-in.
This is very excited in the world of audio, but I've not seen any mainstream or accessibility reviews. However, I'd be happy to engage in conversation here, and discuss these Bose Frames.

#6 OTHERS can't hear what I'm listening too in detail

Submitted by kevinchao89 on 15 January, 2019

Sound is very directed, so it's only audible within shoulder length (less than arm).
Unless, I've the Frames somewhat loud, I've only been asked once--“what are you listening to?”
The other person was able to hear that I was listening to something, but it was faint and suddle.

#7 Very Cool

Submitted by Joseph Westhouse on 15 January, 2019

So probably no different than someone listening to a pair of earbuds cranked up too loud. Very cool. I would love to get my hands on a pair of these...not that I have $200 to sink on anything but if I did, I'd be reluctant to if I didn't know I liked the look and feel of the shades.

#9 Mr Spinneberg

Submitted by kevinchao89 on 15 January, 2019

GPS apps (e.g. SoundScape, BlindSquare) are a matched made in heaven with Frames. The 3D spatial audio relationship is absolutely amazing and stunning. This is where the Audio AR feels like it’s already here.
I think by me charging them 3x / day answers both wanting to use them all of the time and the short battery life.
I had to attach Silicone Nose Pads Adhesive Glasses Pads Non-slip Eyeglass Pads for Eyeglasses to the Frames, so they would stop sliding down my nose.
I’ve used the Frames indoors.
The bass isn’t too high, so there is no vibration.
VoiceOver works really well, wiht <= latency to that of other Bluetooth 5 and W1 audio headsets.
Talking on the phone works really well in open-ear stereo. Other party has observed audio-processing artifact.

#10 Thanks for the review

Submitted by Seanoevil on 16 January, 2019

Hey Kevinchao89,,

Thanks for the info on the Bose Frames. I am officially jealous...

Would you mind letting me know which devices you have paired with the Frames and of your experiences, if any, swapping devices? I am interested in their ability to pair with both an iPhone and an Apple Watch.

I would also appreciate it if you could expand on your experiences with Battery Life. Bose claims, I think, 3.5 hours music playback and up to 12 hours of Stand by. Does this equal your user experience?

I am trying to rationalise their purchase, not so much as a music playback device, but as both a travel aid and as a means of discreetly accessing VO on my iPhone in public. Hopefully, this mixed case use might give me a little more than 3.5 hours..?

Finally, and this one may be a little subjective, but are the frames adjustable? You mentioned adding non slip pads, but are the nasal pads themselves adjustable? How about the arms where they curl around the ear? I know they're designed to fit a multitude of noggins, but even my ever loving Mother would admit I have an unfortunate shaped head..!

I have more questions, but I fear straying into weird Frames Creeper territory....

#11 Seanoevil

Submitted by kevinchao89 on 16 January, 2019

You’re welcome! I’m glad my review of Bose Frames is useful and meaningful.
I’ve paired Frames with iPhone. 2 reasons I’ve not paired Frames with other Bluetooth devices, including Apple Watch, is Frames don’t have a way to toggle or cycle through multipoint Bluetooth (unlike Bose other products that are supported with Connect app). The only great experience I’ve had with swapping devices is when using a W1 chip Bluetooth headset.
Charging is done via pogo-pin cable (USB-A to magnetic, which attaches to the inside of the right arm). Battery life is very short. I’ve not had to charge something more frequently before. Yes, the battery life usage and standby times you listed match my user experience.
My why? for getting the Bose Frames is exactly your reasoning for why you want them. My majority use case are as a travel aid and discrete VO access. Yes, the music playback is a significant battery drain, so I’ve limited this when I have used GPS and VO more and am not able to charge Frames up. When I’m able to for ~15 mins, I try to charge the Frames.
No, the Frames are not adjustable.
I like these questions, so please keep them coming.

#12 Just Buy The Bose Frames !

If you are not used to glasses on your head, you will notice them on the bridge of your nose. A small irritation I am noticing.

The protective case they come in is a hard shell with a leather outside. To open the case, it does a unrolling method. A small magnet holds the case together and pulling it open does the rolling motion.

Charge cable is about 1 foot. One side is USB-A and the other end is proprietary. The connection to the frames is through pins with a magnet connecting the pins and cable to the frames. It is effortless.

There is only one button. It is used like other bluetooth devices and the original Apple wired headphones. One push turns the frames on or to an active state. One push after activation will play or pause media. Two pushes will advance to next track and three pushes will rewind to the previous apps. A press and hold will activate Siri or possibly other digital assistants. One press will answers a call and one press will hang up.

A small felt bag is also given to store the cable.

No adjustments can be made to glasses to fit a specific head size. They are one size only.
Now for the audio experiences:

Don't expect to listen to base music. None of that. In my opinion, these are not great for listening and enjoying music. They are probably best for spoken word audio like VoiceOver or podcasts, etc.

If the Frames are on your head, others can hear them if the volume is at 60% or higher. It is not that noticable, but audio can be heard. Going higher than 60

% is not needed unless public places are very loud. When is isolated environments, 30% is just fine for listening to content.

If listening to audio and frames are held or placed on a surface upside down, they will disconnect from the iPhone. This is a feature to disconnect quickly. If was music or video was being listened to, the content will stop if the Frames are placed upside down, which means the top of the Frames are inverted 180 degrees.
If VoiceOver is reading, web articles or something with length,VoiceOver will continue speaking if the Frames are held upside down. Just as if as if wired headphones were removed while VoiceOver is reading. In practice, this means I take the Frames off my head, place the top side of the glasses on the table, which is upside down, all this while VoiceOver is reading something, then VoiceOVer will begin reading through the device speaker.

Reading the News app with VoiceOver and the Frames is awesome. Things can be heard near by very easily. It is challenging for me to listening with one Airpod and listening to what is happening near by.

Talking on the phone is the best. I think the Frames do a better job than other bluetooth microphone devices because they are not blocking your ears and the microphone is probably centered, don't know for sure. In comparrison to Airpods, the Frames are way better for phone calls.

I use type to Siri on my iPhone. When holding the button for a few seconds, I am able to use voice to speak to Siri through the Frames. I also use Hey Siri and it works just fine.

When at 50% or lower people can not hear the audio nearby. Sliding the Frames slowly off the head, you can hear the audio fade away as the Frames leave your head.

Other stuff:

Frames are not water proof.

There is no camera.

You could use the frames with the Aira glasses but you would look like a fool with two sets of glasses on.

The Frames have no logo. No one will ever know you have Bose Frames on, unless they are a Bose Frames user or just know technology. They are the most simple pair of black glasses you could buy for 200 dollars.

Every time the Frames are activated with a one push of the button, the battery life is announced and the connection status is spoken.

I have not used anything to keep the Frames on my nose. I have a large nose and the Frames sit nicely on my nose. FYI

The audio is directed right at the top of the ear.They precisely shoot the audio narrowly into the top canal of the ear.

If a hood is worn, the audio is amplified within the hood.

If you cup your hands over your ears while wearing the Frames, the audio is amplified.

The initial setup of the Frames may require sighted assistance because the current state of the Bose Connect app is inaccessible for VoiceOVer users when first setting up the Frames. The app team is aware and hopefully working on making the set up work for blind users. This a blind product after all.

The price is perfect for blind people to afford, in my opinion. The Frames are also a blind person's best friend for traveling and listening to Voiceover in private without looking like you are actually listening to something.

No skull vibration at all. Don't worry, these are not bone conducting headphones.

The Frames can be used while charging. Not recommended, but it is possible. I guess if need, you could use a battery charger and charge the Frames while using them.

The Frames come off your head really easily. :)

If you are on the fence about buying Airpods or a bluetooth headset of some kind, I recommend try before you own. Bose offers a 30 day return period and Apple offers 14 day return period. Airpods and Frames are relative in price. I would recommend the Frames over the Airpods at this point because of the lack of obstructions to my ears. Being able to hear my surroundings is more valuable than the awesome wireless convenience Airpods offer. Then again, just buy both because they are both awesome and you will need to use the Airpods when the battery dies on the Frames. I mean Kevin Chao 89 is charging his 3 to 5 times a day. He probably pops in Airpods while his Bose Frames charge.

They also charge relatively fast. No exact measurements on the charging periods available from my use.

#13 Here is a review I did on YouTube

#14 Mr Spinneberg

Submitted by Joe on 18 January, 2019

I agree with all of your points. My only wish is that it made a noise letting you know they are charging. With my portible battery bank I've had them plugged in and for some reason they haven't actually charged. I'm looking in to this issue. Also I read the manual where it states they do not allow you to charge and listen, but like you said it seems this is actually working if one wanted to do so.

#15 More Hot Takes

Submitted by Mr Spinneberg on 18 January, 2019

Youtube

In the youtube video, you gave a great comparison of the bone conducting glasses and the Bose Frames. You mentioned the Bose Frames sit comfortably on your head and the Bone Conducting glasses squeezed the head a little. That detail makes me feel very satisfied with the Bose product.

More Hot Takes:

More than one device can be paired with. No easy way to switch through previous devices.
In my use, I originally connected Bose Frames to iPhone, then later connected to an iPad. I did not use the Bose Connect app when pairing with the iPad. To connect back to the iPhone I went to Control Center on the iPad and disabled bluetooth. The Frames searched for the iPad three times then searched for my iPhone on the fourth try.

The Bose Connect App is not needed to use the Frames with a smart phone or tablet.

Listening to a movie or Netflix is awesome. It is only awesome if the sunglasses portion does not disturb the video experience. I turned the brightness to high on the iPad and the suglasses part was not to annoying for me. I have LHON if that helps with my visual perspective. Next I raised the Frames to the top of my head and I could still hear the video playing. I turned the volume to 50 percent and things were fine. I could hear the television show fine, but wearing them on the nose made the experience way better.

Talking on the phone kills the battery, but it is the best phone call session ever. Something about the nature of the Frames being glasses makes the phone call experience more enjoyable than using other bluetoooth products such as Airpods.

There is one microphone on the device. Upper right. Important to know because it is ina different location than other bluetooth headsets.
While talking on the phone, you can hear the Bose Frame processing the audio. The results are clear and it is so amazing what is happening in such a simple looking pair of sunglasses. If there are many people nearby while you are talking through the Frames, the other people appear to be filtered out. There are even scenarios in really noisy environments where the Frames filter out the person speaking through them. I noticed that in an environment where I was talking to someone else using Bose Frames. We had a Frame to Frame call. Their environment was in a noisy restraunt and I was alone in an office. The Frame would clearly filter out the other people nearby. Then one time, the Frames replaced by friends voice with someone elses voice from nearby. It was so cool. This wasn't a defect or anything, the environment was really really noisy and the Frames were doing such a good job at cancelling out other sounds.

Just want to also mention that these glasses are so awesome for visually impaired individuals.

If you have heard of the Or Cam, a camera product for the visually impaired. I think a current version of it clips on to someones existing glasses frame. When I saw it at a booth, it was the size of a thumb or pinky finger. It clips or snaps onto someones existing glasses, such as the Bose Frames. The Or Cam and the Bose Frames could be a match made in AI heaven. I will look for an Or Cam to try out with the Frames.

#16 Compelling reviews

Submitted by Seanoevil on 18 January, 2019

Hi Kevinchao89, Joe and Mr Spinneberg,

Seldom have I encountered 3 such compelling reviews for a hardware product!
Thanks to each of you for compiling this information, I genuinely appreciate the insights you have given into the Bose Frames.

#18 Rondo & Alto

Submitted by kevinchao89 on 23 January, 2019

The Frames come in 2 styles: Alto and Rondo. I initially got the Alto that are square. The Rondo are round.

I’ve had an issue with the Alto sliding down my nose, so ordered the Rondo over the weekend, and received them today. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it’s a tighter snug fit, even when I’m looking down at the ground.

I’ve been told that from a fashion style point of view--the Rondo look better on my face.

#20 Mute switch

Submitted by Mr Spinneberg on 23 January, 2019

Are you talking about the annoyance that you may have when trying to mute a call and you zoom in and the proximity sensor changes the phone to black because you are holding the phone close to your face? The Bose frameswas a great can do nothing to prevent that scenario from happening if that is something you struggle with.

#21 Responses

Submitted by Joseph Westhouse on 23 January, 2019

I could be wrong but I think @Justin Phillips is referring to muting conference calls through a conferencing service like Zoom or Skype, which usually have a control for muting your audio. My guess would be there is no way to do this with the Frames, as I don't think this can be done on most bluetooth headsets unless they have a dedicated mic on/offf switch.

@kevinchao89 does this mean you'll have a pair of Altos that you aren't using? If you decide to sell them on the cheap, you may have some interested takers on your hands...

#22 Sold my airpods for bose frames

Submitted by Marsha on 29 January, 2019

After reading this string about the bose frames I knew I had to try them. Hands down, these are awesome!
1. Nothing in the ears is a huge advantage: I lost an airpod a month ago and that worry is over.
2. Sound quality is typical for bose. It is fantastic
3. Downside the battery is not great. You do need to charge them throughout the day.
Four. People may think you are crazy when you are walking around talking and there is nothing in your ear and no one around you! Ha ha Ha
Five. I bought the smaller pair and they fit perfectly.
Six. The microphone is very good. People have told me when they call they can hear me much better than they did with the AirPods.
7. Another downside is you do need your phone close by. For me this is not a problem because I usually do have my phone in my pocket.
Eight. I highly recommend these!